Exhalation valve for diving suits



Nov. 2, 1954 R. GALE AZZI EXHALATION VALVE FOR DIVING SUITS Filed May 3. 1951 INVENTOR ROBERTO GALEAZZI BY kw ATTORNEY.

United States PatentO 2,693,180 EXHALATION VALVE FOR DIVING surrs Roberto Galeazzi, La Spezia, Italy Application May 3, 1951, Serial No. 224,292 5 Claims. (Cl. 128-144) This invention relates to improvements in diving suits a portion of the upper parts of which are deslgned for inflation to balance the forces between the weight of the diver and the upward thrust when submerged, the an for inflation being separated from the breathing air, but more particularly the invention relates to an exhalation valve which permits the discharge of exhaled air in accordance with the pressure of the air for inflation.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide a device for more perfectly equalizing the pressure in the lungs of the diver with that of the air breathed as compared with known similar devices.

Other objects of the instant invention w ll become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the attainment of the aforesaid objective, an exhalation valve is interconnected in the discharge tube for the exhaled air. The valve is made in two forms. In the first form, the valve is constituted of flexible lips inserted in a flexible envelope within the suit in such a manner that when the pressure of the exhaled air is suffic ient to expand the envelope against the pressure of the inflated air, the lips will open to permit the discharge of the exhaled air. In the second form, the exhalation valve is constituted of a casing one side of which is open and covered with a flexible membrane the outer surface of which is subject to the pressure of the inflated air. Connected to the inner surface .of the membrane is a disc with flexible lips designed in coaction with a fixed ananular member to block the discharge tube when the pressure in the tube is less than the pressure on the outside of the membrane, that is between successive moments of exhaling, but to open the discharge tube when exhalmg, that is when the pressure in the tube is greater than the pressure on the outer surface of the membrane.

The invention will ap ear more clearly from the following detailed description when I with the accompanying drawings showing by way of example the preferred embodiments of the inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a schematic view of the diving suit showing I the relative position of the exhalation valve.

Figures 2. 2A, and 3 show the first form of the valve constructed in a ordance with the principles of thls 1nvention and in which:

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the valve 111 the closed position;

Fi ure 2A is similar to Figure 2 but wlth the valve in the open position; and

Fi ure 3 is a plan view of the valve shown in Figures 2 and 2A.

Figures 4 and 4A show the second form of the valve, and in which:

Figure 4 is a vertical closed position; and

Figure 4A is a view similar to Figure 4 but with the valve in the open position.

Referring now in greater detail to Figure l, the diving suit is constituted of a mask 1. the helmet 20, the shoulder portion 21, and the dress portion 22.

The mask 1 sectional view of the valve in the is of known type with the usual inlet for fresh air and an outlet for exhaled air, and is fastened over the nose and mouth of the diver in a known manner.

The helmet 20 is also of known typewith the bottom edge thereof designed for air tight attachment to the top of the shoulder portion 21 in a known manner.

taken in coniunction p 2,693,180 Patented Nov. 2, 1954 The shoulder portion 21 is a rigid member extending over the shoulders and front and back of the diver.

The dress 22 is a flexible member having an upper part secured at the top in an air tight manner to the bottom of the shoulder portion. Integrally formed with the upper part of the dress portion is a lower portion constricted about the hips of the diver by the pressure of water which prevents the passage of the air for inflation in the upper portion from passing downwardly into the lower portion. Thus, the helmet 20, the shoulder portion 21 and the upper part of the dress portion are designed as a receptacle for the air of inflation, that is the alilr for balancing the weight of the diver with the upward t rust.

Secured to one end of the mask 1 is an exhaust tube the free end of which is connected to the inlet of the valve 3. The outlet of the valve 3 is connected by an other exhaust tube 7 to a point outside of the diving suit, actually to a point on the outside of the shoulder portion 21 which is above the line 5 separating the inflated upper part of the dress portion from the non-inflated lower part which clings to the body of the diver when submerged. On the free end extremity of the tube 7 is a non-return valve 4 discharging the exhaled air into the sea. The pressure of the inflated air will correspond substantially to the pressure of the water at the depth to which the line 5 is submerged. Hence, the non-return valve 4 being above the line 5 will be in an area of lower pressure relative to the pressure of the inflated air.

Referring now to the first form of the exhalation valve shown in Figures 2, 2A, and 3, reference numeral 3 indicates the exhalation valve, 2 the exhaust tube from the mask 1 to one end of the valve, and 7 the second exhaust tube connecting the opposite end of the valve 3 to the non-return valve 4, located on the outside of the shoulder portion 21 and above the line 5.

If there were no exhalation valve 3, the air in the lungs of the diver, at the same pressure as the inflated air, would discharge directly into the sea and cause a dangerous drop in the pressure within the lungs. However, the valve 3 is designed to prevent such undesired drop in pressure by permitting the passage of the exhaled air as soon as the pressure in the tube 2 is increased above that within the, diving suit.

The valve 3 is constituted of the flexible lip members 8 and 23.which prevent the exhaled air from passing from the tube 2 in the direction of the arrows in the closed position. One end of the lips 8 and 23 are secured to opposite sides of the tube 7 by the flexible envelope 9 interconnecting the tubes 2 and 7 and preferably having a greater surface area than that of the lips so that a hollow space 12 is crea ed. The free ends of the lips 8 and 23 extend toward the tube 2 and are fastened to the in er surfaces of the flexible envelope by the blocks 10.. When the walls of the envelope 9 are in equilibrium relative to the internal and external pressures. that is the interval between two successive acts of exhalation, the valve 3 acts in the usual way, that is the lips 8 and 23 are closed. However, when exhaling. the pressure of the exhaled air acts on the envelope 9. on the side of the tube 2. to urge the walls outwardly (Fig. 2A) and to separate the lips 8 and 23 to permit the passage of air until the act of exhaling ceases.

In the second form of the exhalation valve shown in Figures 4 and 4A, the valve is constituted of a member 13, preferably of disc form with elastic lips in coaction with a stationary annular member 25 having a central opening communicating with the interior of the tube 7. The disc and annular member are enclosed in a casing the top of which is open and covered by a membrane 14 responsive to the pressure in the inflated area, the membrane having a greater surface area than the disc 13. Between successive acts of exhaling, the disc will be superposed over the annular member (Fig. 4) but when the diver exhales, the exhaled air from the tube 2 will have a greater pressure than the pressure on the outside of the membrane 14 so that the membrane 14 will bulge outwardly and draw the disc 13, secured to the membrane 14 by the blocks 26, to the position shown in Figure 4A for the discharge of the exhaled air.

Of 'course in either form more than one exhaust v tube may be provided for the discharge of the exhaled air into the sea, each terminating in a non-return valve at a difierentlevel so that in whatever position the diver may be one ofthe non-return valves 'will'yalways bje at a levelfwhere the pressureis 'lowerzthan the pressuregof the inflated air.

While-there is above disclosedzbut twov embodiments of-the exhalationvalve, it ,is possible to; produce still other embodiments without departing; from th'e,inven tiveconcept herein disclosed, and it -is desired; therefore;- that'only such limitations be imposedon the appended claims as are stated-therein,- or -required,.;by the-prior art;

What-is ,claimed is:

1. In a-divingsuit having arr-inflatableportion-above the waist-lineganda mask for the 'mouth-and' nose--of the diverythe improvements comprising -an--exhaust-tub e for the mask, means'for connecting one end ofsaiddn-be to; oneend of said-"mask and thejopposite end ofg-said tube-toa pointroutside ofthe diving-@fiitaniabove the Waist line; a non-return valve 'forthe end; of the tube outside :of thediving suit, an exhalation valve disposed in'saidexhaust tube and within the;inflatabl p rt-ion, said "valve comprising a member subjected gtothe internal pressure of the inflated portionto maintainsaid valvejn the closed position-andto open said valve-when exhalation pressure overcomes said internal pressure;

2. In a diving suitghaving an inflatable portionabove thewaist line and a mask for the mouth and nose of the diver; the improvements comprising-anexhaust tube, said tube extending from oneside of the mask and terminating within-- the inflatable portion, a second exhaust tubethe outerend of which extendsfrom a=point without the suit and above the waist line and the inner end ofwhich terminates within-the-inflatable portion, a nonreturn valve for theouterend of said secondmentioned tube-, two coacting lips disposed on opposite sidesof said secondmentioned tubeand extending toward the first mentioned tube, a flexible member disposed around said lips and interconnecting said tubes,- the extended ends of said lips being adapted to be -superposed inthe closed position of 'said valve, and ablock interconnecting each' lip and the opposed surface of'saidflexible member.

3'. In a-diving suit'having-an inflatableportion above the-Waist line and a mask forthe mouth andnosdof the diver; the improvementscomprising anrexhaust tube extending from one side of themask, the free end of said tube terminating within the inflatable portion, a second'exhaust tube the outer end of'whichrextendsfrom a. point withoutthe suit and above the waist line" and the inner end of which terminates within: the inflatable portion,- a non-return valve for said outer end, an exhalation valve for the ends of the tubes terminating within the inflatable portion, said valve comprising; a casing, said casing having an opening formed therein, an elastic diaphragm disposed over said opening, adisc with flexiblelips disposed in the casing, meansfoi' securing the disc to the flexible member, an annular member disposed in the casing and'coacting Withsaid'disc, means 4; o v ecu in theh cond. ment ed e ni he a in the annular member having an opening communicating with said second mentioned tube, and means for securing the free end of the first mentioned tube in the easing adjacent said disc.

4. In a diving suit having an inflatable portion above the Waist line and a mask for the divers mouth and nose, improvements comprising an exhaust tube for the mask, means forconnecting one end of said tube to one end'of'said mask, the opposite end of said tube terminating withinthe inflatable portion, a second exhaust tube having an outer end which extends from a point without the suit and abovethe waist line and an inner end which terminates within the inflatable portion, a non-return'valvefor the outer-end of the secondmentioned tube, an exhalation valve disposed between the ends of said exhaust tubes within the inflatable portion, sai d valve comprising flexible lips, said lips being normally; closed; and a shell having an elastic Wall connested with the: lips and subjected to the internal" pres: sure of th'einflated portion of the suit on the external side a-nd 'tothe :pressure of the exhaled air on the-interna l side, whereby said valveis responsive to the exhaled air pressure and "to the internal-pressure of the inflated=portionof thesuit and-is adapted to-be maintained in a closedrpositionbetween successive intervals of exhalation when the pressure on the internal side of the shell-is. the same as the pressure inside theinflated portionwofsthe suit, said valve opening, during intervals of exhalation when pressure of the exhaled air-on the internal side-of'the. shell is-higher than the-pressure of the inflated t'porition ot'the suit, the pressure of the exhaustinto th'esea being. less than the-pressure of -the inflated portion;

5. 'In a'divingsuit having an inflatable portion'above the waist lineanda maskfor the divers mouth and nose; improvements comprising an exhaust tube ex: tendingwf'romaone side-of the mask, the free end-of said tube terrn-inating-within the ,inflatableportion, a second exhaust tube= having-an outer end 1which extends froma: point without: the-suit'and'above the waist line and an =inner end which terminates within-the inflatable iportion; 'atnon-returnvalve for said; outer end; a partially flexible member intenconnecting the endsof; said tubes and-terminating within the inflatable portion, a disc said member-being, disposed around; said disc, flexible lips connected-with; saidgdise; and coacting with the annular endiofxthe seCQnd mentioned tube, said lips-being adapted to be-superposedim, the closed position of said: valve, andiblocksaconnectingtheglips of-saiddisc and the ;flex-. ible portion :of said member;

ReferenmSiCited in the fileofthisrpatent- UNITED, STATES PATENTS' 

